Inflated hat block



Sept. 13, 1938. G. F. WILHELM INFLATED HAT BLOCK Filed March l0, 1937 s Il@ W Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENToFFicE N This invention relates to a hat block of the type f used when making hats or while cleaning hats,

` and one object of the invention is to provide a hat block which may beinflated to a predetermined size so that, when a hat is placed upon the block during the manufacture or cleaning of the hat, the hat when dry and removed from the block will be of the desired size.

It is another object of the invention to provide a block which, when inflated, will have frictional grip with the hat placed over the block and prevent the hat from slipping out of its proper position about the block.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat block which will not only firmly hold a hat in place about the block but eliminates any danger of a hat being broken by strain exerted due to over expansion of the block.

It is another object of the invention to sov form the block that, when it is in use, it may be Very easily applied to a rotary mandrel and have firm gripping engagement with the mandrel so that the block will remain in place thereon.

It is another object of the invention to provide an inflated block wherein a gage is provided which will be actuated by pressure of air within the block and accurately indicatewhen the block has been inflated the proper extent.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view taken vertically through the improved hat block.

Figure 21s a bottom plan view of the hat block, and

Figure 3 is an enlargedsectional .view taken throughvthe gage along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

This improved hat block is formed of rubber and has av body I which is oval when viewed in top plan or bottom plan, as shown in Figure 2, and may be of any depth desired and also of any length and width desired according to the type of hat with which it is to be used. The top 2 of the body is preferably bulged upwardly, as shown in Figure 1, so that it will fit correctly within a soft felthat, and it will be readily understood that since the block is formed of rubber, such as used for theinner tubes of automobile tires, this upper wall will have sufficient give to permit it to conform to the shape of a straw hathaving a at top. The bottom 3 is also of rubber but is somewhat thicker than the walls and top. The intermediate portion of the bottom is extended upwardly into the body,as shown at 4, to provide an annular inner wall from whichvis suspended a core 5 which is located centrally of the bottom s and formed with an inwardly extending socket 6 disposed axially -of the body and ter-` minating short of the inner end of the core 5. By providing the core 5 which has its inner end portion of reduced diameter, as shown at 1, the 5 core may be easily grasped and a mandrel forced into the socket 6, and when the core has been Ilrmly mounted upon the mandrel, the walls of the socket will grip the mandrel and frictionally hold the block in place thereon so that the block will turn with the mandrel. An inflating valve 8 which is similar in construction to those used for inating the inner tubes of tiresis secured through the bottom 3 adjacent one end thereof so that air may be pumped into the body to inate the same. Adjacent the opposite end of the body, the bottom carries a tube 9 which is passed through an opening I0 formed in the bottom and provided at its inner end with an annular flange II so that, when the nut I2 which is threaded upon the tubev is tightened, the portions of the bottom about the opening I0 will be rmly gripped and the tube held in place. This also provides a tight joint about the tube and prevents leakage of air when the body is inflated. At its lower end the tube is formed with a laterally extending neck I3 which is internally threaded1 as shown at I4 in Figure 3, so that the v'valve I5 of a gage I6 may be screwed into the neck. 'Ihis valve is formed with an inwardly extending annular ange I 1 at its outer end and within the valve is slidably mounted a plunger I8 having its outer end portion formed with gage markings, as shown at I9. A cup 20 and a disk 2| are securedat the inner end of the plunger by a screw 22, a spacing `washer 23 being provided about the screw between the disk and the cup to maintain the disk and cup in spaced relation to each other. There has also been provided a washer 24 which engages the outer face of the cup under the head of the screw to prevent collapsing of the cup. A helical spring 25 is coiled about the plunger within the valve I5 and has one end bearing against the ange I1 and its other end bearing against the portion of the disk 2| which projects radially from the plunger. Therefore, outward movement of the plunger will be yieldably resisted when the interior of the body is inilated and the air passes through the tube 9 to act upon the cup and force the plunger outwardly. 'Ihe lower face of the plunger is flat, as shown at 26 in Figure 2, in order that turning of the plunger in the valve will be prevented and the gage markings I9 always .disposed in such a position that they may be easily seen.

When this hat block is in use, it is placed Within a hat and air forced into the body of the block through the inlet valve 8. The body of the block is inflated by the air and completely lls the crown of the hat and thus provides the crown of the hat with a firm surface which at the same time is sufficiently yieldable to permit the hat to be thoroughly cleaned while rotating. As the body of the block is inflated, the air enters the tube 9 and acts upon the cup at the inner end of the plunger to force the plunger outwardly. Inflating of the body will be continued until the predetermined gage markings show at the end of the valve of the gage. I n Figure 3, the numeral 'l of the gage is at the end of the Valve thus indicating that suiiicient air has been forced into the body and provide a body lof thel proper dimensions for a number seven hat. After the body has been sufficiently inflated, the hat or tube leading from a source of compressed air will be detached from the outer end of the valve 8 and the block may then be grasped by the core 5 and the mandrel of a turn-table forced into the socket 6 to mount the block upon the mandrel where it will remain and turn with the mandrel. After the hat has been thoroughly cleaned and blocked, the block may be removed from' the mandrel and either left within the crown of the hat until the hat has thoroughly dried or it may be immediately removed. During removal of the block, the stem 2l of the valve 8 is pressed inwardly to allow air to escape and thus reduce the inflated body of the block to such an extent that the block can be very easily withdrawn from the crown of the hat.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A hat block comprising a hollow body of elastic material having a bottom and side walls and a top, a portion of the bottom being extended up- Wardly into the body to provide an annular inner wall and a core suspended therefrom and located centrally of the bottom and formed with a support-receiving socket projecting upwardly from its bottom and extending axially of the core and body, and means for admitting air into the body and confining the air therein.

GEORGE F. WILHELM. 

